23rd OPCW Regional Meet of Asian States Concludes in New Delhi

The three-day 23rd Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Asia of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) concluded in New Delhi on 3 July 2025.

India hosted the 23rd Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Asia from 1-3 July 2025. The regional meeting in New Delhi was organised by the OPCW and hosted by the National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention, India.

The OPCW was established to oversee the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention 1992 that completely prohibits the production, stockpiling, transfer and use of chemical weapons in the world.

The National Authorities of the 193 signatory countries are responsible for implementing the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention in their country. 

Who attended the meeting?

The meeting was attended by 24 National Authorities of the Asian region - India, 

Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Maldives, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, Oman, South Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka,  Kyrgyzstan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. 

Representatives from the OPCW and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) also participated in the meeting.

Aim of the Regional Meeting 

The OPCW regularly organises regional meetings in various parts of the world annually.

The main aims of the meeting are as follows:

• Enhance the capacity of various National Authorities to effectively implement the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
• The various countries' National Authorities share their best practices regarding implementing the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
• They discuss the issue and possible solutions in implementing the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
• To foster bilateral and regional cooperation amongst National Authorities.

About OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons)

Established in 1997.

Established under the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1992 to implement the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The Convention totally bans the production, storage and use of chemical weapons in the world.

Members: 193 countries have signed and ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention. 

Four countries that have not signed the Convention are Angola, South Sudan, Egypt, and North Korea.

Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands.

For Detail, also read- Indian Chemical Council conferred with the 2024 OPCW The Hague Award